Print roll securing means



May 15, 1956 F. HAsELoFF 2,745,341

PRINT ROLL SECURING MEANS Filed March 6,

eet l Fig. l

May 15, 1956 F. HAsl-:LOFF

PRINT ROLL SECURING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1952 Fig.5

United States Patent PRINT ROLL SECURING MEANS Fritz Haseloff, Kassel,Germany, assigner ta Licentie Patent-Verwaltungs, G. m. b. H., Hamburg',

Application March 6, 1952, Serial No. 275,058 8 Claims. (Cl.-1(l1212)The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a printing apparatusadapted to be removably mounted in a printing machine so as to printtickets, for example. This printing apparatus may be used to printrailroad tickets, for example.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a printingapparatus of the above type with a locking means to prevent unauthorizeduse of the printing apparatus.

The objects of the present invention also include decreasing the cost ofknown printing apparatus of the above type as well as improving theoperation thereof.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists ofa printing apparatus which comprises a casing having a printing rollermounted therein for rotation with respect thereto. A bearing is mountedin the casing and engages the roller to support the same for rotation. Alocking means is mounted on the roller and casing to prevent rotation ofthe former with respect to the latter except when the printing apparatusis mounted in the printing machine, this locking means being made of aplurality of movable locking members having cut away portions adapted tocooperate with a key-shaped end of a drive shaft of the printing machineto be moved to an open position. A spring means is operatively connectedto the locking members to urge the same to a locking position Where anend of the locking members is located against the inner surface of thecasing and between a pair of projections thereon so as to preventrotation of the printing roller with respect to the casing, this casinghaving a plurality of additional projections located on the innersurface thereof to prevent rotation of the printing roller when thelocking members are moved against the action of the spring means beyonda predetermined distance.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. l is a schematic elevational view of a printing machine adapted tocooperate with the printing apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic elevational partly sectional view of the apparatusof Fig. 1 as seen from the right, Fig. 2 showing the position of theprinting roller in the apparatus and the drive for the printing rolleras well as a card being printed;

Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the printing apparatus of the presentinvention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the structure of Fig. 3 taken along theline 4--4 thereof in the direction of the arrows;

2,745,341 Patented May 15, 1956 ICC Fig. 5 is an elevational view of alock member shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of two additional lock members adapted tocooperate with the lock member of Fig. 5 and shown also in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lock members shown in Figs. 5 and 6in cooperative relationship;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of the structure shown inFig. 4, illustrating the spring tensioning of a lock member within thebody of the printing apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the lines 9-9 of Fig.4 in the direction of the Varrows and shows a part of the lock apparatusof the invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a detail of the drive shaftof the printing machine;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. l() inthe direction of the arrows and shows apart of the drive shaft whichforms an unlocking key;

Fig. l2 is a sectional view of a printing roll and is taken along theline 12-12 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vieu7 of a part of the printing machine asviewed in the direction of arrow S of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13 in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig.' 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15--15 of Fig. 13 inthe direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, there is diagrammatically 'shown in Figs.l and 2 the housing 1 of a printing machine. Mounted on this housing 1is a supply chute 2 adapted to contain a plurality of blanks 3 uponwhich various data is to be printed, these blanks 3 being urged towardthe bottom of the chute 2 by the weight 4. The chute 2 is formedadjacent its lower end with a pair of opposite slits 5, 6 so that thelowest blank 3 may be moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, by anelongated pusher member 6 which enters through slit 5 and forces thelowest blank 3 out through opening 6. The printing apparatus of thepresent invention is designated by numeral 7 in Fig. l and is insertedinto the machine through an opening in the front wall of housing 1, thisfront wall not being shown in Fig. 1.

As will be more fully described below, the printing apparatus 7comprises an outer casing which, when the apparatus 7 is inserted intothe machine, engages a lever 8. The printing apparatus 7 is providedwith a handle 9 so that the casing of the printing apparatus may beturned after it is set into the machine, this turning of the casingcausing a turning of the lever 8 in a downward direction against theaction of spring 10.

This downward movement of lever S causes the pawl member 12 to turn in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, yto the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 1 This movement of pawl 12 is derived from the bar 13which is pivotally connected at one end to the lever 8 and at anopposite end to the bell crank lever 14 which is pivotally connected tothe bar 15, this bar 15 being connected to the pawl 12 as illustrated inFig. 1.

The pawl 12 consists of an upper, rearwardly bent portion 16 whichengages an extension 17 of lever 19 which is mounted for pivotalmovement on the pin 1S, so that when the portion 16 of pawl 12 engagesextension 17, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, the lever 19 ismaintained in the illustrated solid line position against the action ofspring 20. Thus, when handle 9 is turned to cause a clockwise turning ofpawl 12, as described above, the lever 19 is released to the action ofspring 20 which turns this lever in a clockwise direction, about pivot18 as viewed in Fig. 1, to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig.1.

The pusher member 6' is mounted for reciprocating movement in a bearing2l and comprises a pair of downwardly extending projections betweenwhich the upper end of lever l@ is located. ri`hus, the movement Voflever 19 under-the action of spring Ztl causes the pusher 6 to movethrough slit and thereby move the lowest blank 3 out through slit otoward the rollers 22 and 23.

The roller 22 serves to printsuch matter as a date, ytor example, on theblank, and the roller 23 serves as a counter pressure roller to maintainthe blank against the roller 22, these rollers 22 and '.23 beingdiagrammaticaily illustrated in Fig. l slightly apart from each other soas to clearly show other features of vthe printing machine. The roller23 is formed on its outer periphery with an annular groove in which aring is located, this ring-2d being rotatable in this groove withrespect to the roller 23. The ring 24 is interconnected with the rollerby a spring 25 which urges the ring 2d to a predetermined position ofrest on the ring 23. The ring 24 is provided with a pair of projections26 and 27 which are respectively located in dier'ent planes, theprojection Z6 being located in the path of movement of the lowermostblank 3 which is moved out of the chute 2 and the projection 27 beinglocated in the plane of the bell crank lever 29.

The lowermost blank card 3 is moved by pusher 6 between the rollers Z2and 23, and the card 3 thereby engages the projection 26 to turn ringZiagainst the action of spring 25 and with respect to the roller Z3.rlhis movement of ring 24 causes the projection 27 to move unward- 1y,as viewed in Fig. l, out of engagement with the bell crank lever 29which is pivotally mounted at 2S, so that this bell crank lever isreleased to the action of spring 30 connected thereto. electricalcontact 31 mounted thereon, and, when lever 29 is turned by spring 3?,thisV electrical contact 3l moves into engagement with the stationaryelectrical Contact 32 to complete an electrical circuit to the motor 34.The contacts 3l and 32 are located in line 33 of the electrical circuit,this line 33 being joined to the electrical motor at 35. The electricalcircuit also includes the line 36 which is joined to the electricmotorSM-l at 37. rl`he leads 33 and 36 respectively extend to theelectrically conductive The bell crank lever 29 has an Y projections 38and 39 which are adapted to cooperate with Y an electric pluginterconnected with any suitable source of current, this plug not beingshown in the drawings and being adapted to be located in the recess ofhousing lV where extensions 38 and 39 are located.I A

Upon closing of contacts of 3l and 32 in the manner described above, themotor 34 commences to rotate and, as shown in Fig. 2, its shaft lildrives, through the medium of wheel dil', an intermediate wheel di whichcooperates with the two rollers 23 and 42. These latter rollers drive,through the medium of intermediate gears, the roller 22- and theprinting roller of apparatus 7, these latter rollers having the sameperipheralgspeed as the rollers 23 and 4t2. Only one of theseintermediate gears 86 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The direction of rotation or" the above described members is shown bythe arrows of Fig. 1. forms a counter pressure roller for the printingapparatus 7. The blank 3, which has moved between the rollers The roller22. and 23 under the action of pusher d', is now moved,

by the motor and drive therefrom, to the right, in the direction of thedotted line i3 of Fig.V 1. After this blank passes between the rollers22 and 2.3 and has a date, or the like, printed thereon, this blankmoves between the printing apparatus 7 and roller -i2. Upon passingthrough printing apparatus 7 and roller d2, the blank has additionalsubject matter printed thereon, such as railroad ticket information, forexample. After passing through the printing apparatus '7 and roller d2,the printed card 3 is received in a collecting chamber ed which is openon the front side of the housing l and comprises a lower collecting dish45. The elements 3f, til-tand le? are killustrated in dotted lines inFig. 1.

The entire printing process for a single blank takes place during onerevolution of the rollers 22 and 23 as well as the printing apparatus 7and roller d2. At the termination of this one revolution, theVprojection 27 of ring Ent, which, as soon as the card 3 has left therollers and 23, is returned by spring 25 to its original position, hasturned the bell crank lever 2% against the action of spring 3i? so as tomove contact 3l away from Contact 32 to open the circuit to motor 34 andstop operation of the latter. At this time elements 22, 23 and 7, 42 are'n in their original starting position.

During ti e early part of the rotation of the-motor, the pusher member iVis moved back to its/orignal position. This is brought about by a camdo mounted on the motor shaft to be rotated thereby. This cam cooperatcswith a follower roller :i7 mounted on a lever 43 which is pivoted at 28.This lever is interconnected with the lever through the medium of bar4'? so that when the cam turns it moves the lever'll from the dottedline toward the solid line position shown in Fig. 1, so as to therebymove pusher 6' back to its original Vposi'- tion. The cam 46 is soshaped that it moves the lever i9 in a countercloclrwise direction, asviewed `in Fig. 1, through a sutiicient distance for the portion i6 ofpawl l2 to move beneath the projection i7 under the action of springlil.

The above described machine is only representative of one possibleembodiment of a construction adapted to be used with the print'mgapparatus of the invention now to be described. This latter printingapparatus may also be used with other types of printing machines.

VThe printing apparatus of the present invention Ais illustrated inFig.3. rl`his apparatus comprises an outer casing 5l in which a printingroller El? is located. Fixedly connected to the `outer casing 5l at theright-hand part thereof, as viewed in Fig. 3, in a hollow handle 9.- TheVleft-hand end wall of casing 5l is formed with a bore 1tl3,'shown inFig. 3, and a bore Titia shown in Fig. l5. These bores le? and 194i ofthe casing Si are adapted to respectively receive pins w3 and loftextending from a portion-of the lever S (Fig. 13). ln Fig. 13 lthere isshown the left endwall of the casing 5l, as viewed in Fig. 3, and an endof the printing roller J3, this end being adapte to be driven by a freeend of a drive shaft which is rotated by gear 36 V(Fig. 3). As is shownin Fig. 13, the lever l is partly in the form of a ring member which ismounted for rotation in the machine by a bearing which is notillustrated. The spring l@ urges the lever 8 against the stop 3.92, andthe pins M93 and ,104 extend from the ring portion of lever il. in orderto properly vguide the casing 5l when it is inserted into the machine,this casing is provided with a projection 65 which engages a groove2id-'3, formed in a part of the machine,- so that the recesses Z103' andlila will be properly aligned with the pins 03 and lill-fi to receivethe same. The groove lilo is formed at its innermost end with a widenedportion lil? (Fig. 14) so that when the casing 5l is in operatingposition on the machine, the handle 9 may turn the casing, andprojection M5 in portion itl-7 of groove lilo, to turn lever S againstthe action of spring lil to start the operation of the machine, asdescribed above.

The printing roller 59 of the present invention (Fig. 3) is rotatablymounted in the casing 51 by means of the bearing 53 mounted on the innersurface of. casing Si.

- The curved printing stock 54 is lixedly mounted on the printing rollerSti by means of screws 55, one of which is shown in Fig. 3 and anotherof which is shown in Fig. 12. The printing stock 5d is made up of a baseportion 54 upon which the printing portion 54 is located, these twoportions being joined to each other by soldering, for example. Theprinting roller Si? is formed to the left of screw 55, as viewed in Fig.3, with an opening 56 over which an end of portions 5d and 34% arelocated, as shown in Fig. 3. Upon rotation of printing roller Sil, theprinting stock moves in the opening 57 of the casing 51 D so as to printa card, the roller 42, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. l, extendinginto this opening 57 to press a' blank against the printing stock 54.The printing roller 50 and casing 51 may be manufactured from a lightmetal and may be formed by a die casting'. No bearing means is requiredin the opening 52 of the left end wall of casing 51, as viewed in Fig.3, because the end portion of v printing roller 50 extending throughOpening 52 is supported, by' drive shaft 59, with clearance in theopening 52, this drive shaft 59 being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Mounted on' the right hand open end of casing 51, as viewed lin Fig. 3,is the handle 9 which is' joined to the casing S1 by screws or the like.This handle 9 is hollow, and a counting mechanism is located therein toindicate how many cards or tickets are printed with the apparatus. Partsof this mechanism, which is not per se a part of the present invention,are illustrated in Fig. 3. A pin 60 is provided with a collar locatedagainst the printing roller 50 and has the thickest portion 63 thereofextending into a bore 64 formed in the printing roller 50. The screw 55,shown in Fig. 3, extends into this bore 64 to fixedly mount the pin 60on the printing roller 50.

Between the handle 9 and casing 51 there is ixedly mounted a ring plate67 which serves to support a framework formed with a front opening 70.The counting mechanism is located on the shaft 65, which is supported byside plates of the framework, and is located behind the gear 61, asviewed in Fig. 3, this counting mechanism being connected to gear 61 bymeans of pins 71 extending into the gear so as to be operated thereby.Upon rotation of the printing roller 50, during the operation of theprinting machine, the pin 60 describes a circle in a central cutout' ofplate 67 and, during' each revolution, contacts one Iof the teeth ofgear 61 to move the latter through a distance equal to one tooth. Inthis manner the number of printed cards is registered on the countingmechanism.

The front face of the handle 9 is provided with a transparent sheet overopening 70 so that the counting mechanism is visible through the frontface of handle 9, as shown in Fig. 3.

When the printing apparatus of Fig. 3 is located outside of ltheprinting machine, the rotation of printing roller 50 with respect tocasing 51 is prevented by a locking means. This locking means comprisesthe locking members 76, 77 and 78 which are illustrated in Figs. 4, 5,6, 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings. As is shown in Figs. 4 and 9, theprinting roller 50 carries a plurality of springs 79 which respectivelybear against shoulders of the lock members 7 6-78 to urge the left-handends thereof, as viewed in Fig. 4., toward the left hand inner surfaceportion of casing 51, as viewed in Fig. 4. A thin partition 109 (Fig. 9)is provided to keep the springs 79 apart from each other. The twolocking members 76 and 77 have a combined width which is equal to thewidth of the locking member 78, these locking members 76 and 77 beinglocated in side by side relation and against the locking member 78 asseen in Fig. 4, the locking members 76 and 77 lie behind the lockingmember 78.

The three lock members are illustrated in Figs. and 6. They consist ofessentially rectangular sheets formed with specially shaped projectionsand cutouts as clearly seen in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 7 shows the lockmembers, in perspective view, in cooperative relationship. Members 76and 77 are placed alongside one another in a common plane superposed inContact with the third lock member 78, the outer configurations ofmembers 76 and 77 together being the Same as the outer configuration ofmember 78. These cooperating lock members are placed in a slit 75 in theroller 50, the slit having parallel side Walls and being adapted toreceive the lock members at right angles to the roller (see Fig. 3).Fig. 4 is a section through the roller across the slit 75 as viewed inthe direction of arrows 4, and shows the locking members in the slit inlocking position. The width of the slit is the same as the width oflocking member 78, so that the cooperating locking members just tit, inthe direction of their greater length, into the slit. The roller isformed, adjacent the slit with cutouts so as to present shoulders b oneither side of the' slit, these shoulders being adapted to be locatedopposite projections a on the locking members, so that whenthe lockingmembers are located within the slit, springs 79 can be placed betweenshoulders b and projections a (as seen in Fig. 4, and in enlarged viewin Fig. 8) to urge the locking members into locking position.

The above-mentioned left-hand ends of the locking members 76-78 are inthe form of tongues 80 which are located between projections 81 and 81'on the inner surface of casing 51 when the locking members are in theirlocking position, so that rotation of printing roller 50 with respect tocasing 51 is prevented by engagement of tongues with projections 81, 81.Each of the locking members 76-78 is formed in a central part thereofwith a cut away portion, one possible configuration of these cut awayportions being illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the locking members beingyviewed in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 4. The lockingmember 78 is formed with the cut away portion 82', and the lockingmembers 76 and 77 are formed with the cut away portions 82".

When the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is set into the printing machine, thefree end 59' of drive shaft 59 extends through the axial bore at theleft end of printing roller 50, as viewed in Fig. 3, and through the cutouts 82' and S2". This free end 59 of drive shaft 59 is provided with agrooved curved surface 108 (Fig. l0) so that this free end 59 is in theshape of a key adapted to cooperate with the cut away portions 82' and82" to move the locking members 76-78 to an open position where theprinting roller 50 is free to rotate with respect to the casing 51. Thekey-shaped end 59' of shaft 59 is formed to simultaneously move all ofthe locking members against the action of springs 79. The tapered freeend of 59' of shaft 59 is illustrated in Figs. l() and 1l. The shaft 59is mounted for rotation about a fixed axis in the printing machine sothat when the casing 51 is set into the machine, as is partiallyillustrated in Fig. 13, the key-shaped end 59 of shaft 59 will move thelocking members 76-78 to a central unlocking position. The end 59 ofshaft 59, adapted to cooperate with the cutouts 82' and 82 of thelocking members, is tapered as shown in Fig. l0 and is formed with twoparallel axially extending grooves 110. The cross sectional view in Fig.ll indicates that the end of shaft 59 is so tapered, that ridges 111,112 and 113 (between the grooves project radially different distancesfrom the axis of the shaft 59. The cutouts 82 and 82 are so shaped as tomate exactly with the projections and grooves in the end 59 of shaft 59.Thus shoulders Illa, 11251 and 113a of the locking members (see Figs. 5and 6) engage with the ridges 111 to 113 of shaft end 59 and because ofthe tapered shape of end 59', when the roller 5t) is engaged with shaft59, the introduction of end 59 into the locking members forces thelatter, against the action of springs 79, to a central unlockingposition where tongues 80 are out of engagement with projections S1 and81. The end portion of roller 50 which extends through opening 52 ofcasing 51 is formed with a plurality of slots 85, as shown in Figs. 3and 13, and key members 83 and 84, fixedly mounted on shaft 59 (Fig.l0), extend into these slots 85 so as to transmit rotation of shaft 59to the printing roller Si). As is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, theshaft 59 has fixedly mounted thereon a driving wheel 86 which is joinedto the Motor 34 in the manner described above (Fig. 2).

In order to provide structure, in addition to that described above, forpreventing unauthorized use of the printing apparatus 7 when the latteris located out of the machine, even though the locking cooperation oftongues 80 with projections 81 and 81 should be interrupted, the lockingmembers are provided with further tongues 89 located opposite to tongues80 (Figs. 5 and 6), and these tongues 89 will be located betweenprojections 90 and 90'-, located on the inner surface of casing 51opposite to projections 81 and 8l (Fig. 4), if, during unauthorizedtampering with locking members '7o-73, the latter are moved beyond theircentral open position. ln this Way the rotation of printing roller 59withrespect to casing 51 will also be prevented. In the event thatunauthorized tampering with the locking means results in partialrotation of the printing roller 55B with respect to asing 51, additionalprojections 92 are provided on the inner surface of casing 5l (Fig. 4)to engage tongues di? or S9 so that any rotation of printing roller 5Gwith respect to casing 51 is impossible unless the locking members areall located in their central open position, which requires a key or" theconfiguration of end 59 of shaft 59 in the particular exampleillustrated in the drawings. The cu away portions or" Vthe lockingmembers and end 5% of shaft 59 obviously may have any desiredconguration.

As is apparent from Figs. 3, 4- and l0, when the printing roller Sil islocked in the casing 51, the printing stock 54, which does the actualprinting, is angularly displaced from the window 57.

lnFig. 3 there are also illustrated the segments 93 which cooperate withthe price calculating mechanism of the printing machine. These segments9b, which extend only partially about the printing roller 5u so thatonly the lower ends thereof are shown in section in Fig. 3, arerespectively located in annular grooves 99 of the roller 5i) and areheld in position by the pin 100. The segments 93 act through the openinglili of casing El to cooperate with the price calculating mechanism, thelatter forming no part of the present invention.

it will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also dnd a useful application in other types ofprinting apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in aprinting apparatus particularly suitable for printing railroad ticketsandthe like, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown,since various modiiications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a casing yhaving aninner surface and having a side wall portion formed with an openingpassing therethrough; a printing roller mounted in said casing oppositesaidtopening for rotation with respect thereto, said printing rollercarrying a printing stock which extends only part way about the axis ofsaid ro'ler; releasable locking means kmounted on said roller and casingto prevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter and to locksaid roller in said casingin a position where said printing stock isangularly displaced from said opening, said locking means comprising atleast one pair of projections mounted on said inner surface of saidcasing, at least one locking member mounted on said roller formovementtoward and away from said inner surface of said casing, andspring means operatively connected to said loosing member for urging thesame toward said inner surface of said casing so that an end or" saidlocking member is located between said pair of projections to preventrotation of said roller with respect to said casing; and release meanslocated in die apparatus for engaging said locking member and moving thelatter against the action of said spring means said inner surface ofsaid casing and said projections to release said roller for rotation insaid casing by said opening thereof, whereby an article in said openingmay enf-*age said roller to be printed thereby.

2. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a casing having aninner surface and having a side wall portion formed with an openingpassing therethrough; a printing roller mounted in said casing oppositesaid openlin said casing in a positionwheresaid printing stock isangularly displaced from said opening except when said locking means isreleased, said locking means comprising at least one pair ofprojections'mounted on said inner surface of said casing, at least onelocking member mounted on said roller for movement `toward and away fromsaid inner surface of said casing, and spring means operativelyconnected to said locking member fory urging the same toward said innersurface of said casing so that an end of said locking member is locatedybetween said pair of projections to prevent rotation of said roller withrespect to said casing, said locking member being formed with a cut awayportion adapted to be engaged by a key to move said locking member awayfrom said projections, against the action of said spring means, topermit rotation of said roller with respect to said casing whereby anarticle in said opening of said casing may engage the rotating roller tobe ,tinted thereby. l

3. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a casing having aninner surface; a printing roller mounted in said casing for rotationwith respect thereto, said printing roller carrying a printing stockwhich extends only part way about the axis of said roller; locking meansmounted on said roller and casing to prevent rotation of the former withrespect to the latter and to lock said roller in said casing in aposition where` said printing stock is angularly displaced from saidopening, said locking means comprising a first pair of projectionsmounted on said inner surface of saidcasing, at least one locking membermounted on said roller for movement toward and away from said innersurface of said casing, and spring means operatively connected to saidlocking member for urging the same toward said inner surface of saidcasing so that an end of said locking member is located between saidtirst pair of projections to provent rotation of said roller withrespect to said casing, and a second pair of projections :ilounted onsaid inner surface of said casing opposite to said first pair ofprojections so that, when said locking member is moved beyond apredetermined distance away from said first projections, an opposite endof said locking member will be located between said second pair ofprojections to prevent rotation of said roller with respect to saidVcasing;` and release means located in the apparatus for engaging saidlocking member and moving the latter against the action of said springmeans away from said inner surface of said casing through saidpredetermined distance away from said rst projections to release saidroller for rotation in said casing.

4. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination a casing having aninner surface; a printing roller mounted in said casing for rotationwith respect thereto, said printing roller-carrying a printing stockwhich extends only part way about the axis of said roller; locking meansmounted on said roller and casing to prevent rotation ofthe former withrespect to the latter and to lock said roller in said casing in aposition where said printing stock is angularly displaced from saidopening, said locking means comprising a first pair of projectionsmounted on said inner surface of said casing, at least one lockingmember mounted on said roller for movement toward and away from saidinner surface of said casing, and spring means operatively Vconnected tosaid looting member for urging the same toward said inner surface ofsaid casing so that an end of said locking member is Vlocated betweensaid first pair of projections to prevent rotation of said roller withrespect to said casing, and a second pair of projections mounted on saidinner surface of said casing opposite to said first pair of projectionsso that, when said locking member is moved beyond a predetermineddistance away from said first projections, an opposite end of saidlocking member will be located between said second pair of projectionsto prevent rotation of said roller with respect to said casing, and aplurality of additional projections located on the inner surface of saidcasing to further prevent rotation of said roller with respect to saidcasing when said locking member is moved beyond said predetermineddistance against the action of said spring means; and release meanslocated in the apparatus for engaging said locking member and moving thelatter against the action of said spring means away from said innersurface of said casing through said predetermined distance away fromsaid first projections to release said roller for rotation in saidcasing.

5. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a printing machinehaving a rotatable shaft formed with a free, key-shaped end; a casinghaving a side wall portion formed with an opening passing therethrough;a printing roller mounted in said casing opposite said opening thereoffor rotation with respect thereto, said printing roller carrying aprinting stock which extends only part way about the axis of saidroller; support means located on said machine adjacent to said end ofsaid shaft to receive and support said casing; and releasable lockingmeans mounted on said roller and casing to prevent rotation of theformer with respect to the latter and to lock said roller in said casingin a position where said printing stock is angularly displaced from saidopening when said casing and roller are out of said machine, saidlocking means mating with said free end of said shaft to be releasedthereby when said casing and roller are mounted on the machine so as tothen permit rotation of said roller with respect to said casing, wherebyan article located in said opening thereof may be engaged by said rollerto be printed thereby.

6. Printing apparatus, comprising in combination, a printing machinehaving a rotatable drive shaft formed with a free, key-shaped end; acasing having a side wall portion formed with an opening passingtherethrough; a printing roller mounted in said casing opposite saidopening thereof for rotation with respect thereto, said printing rollercarrying a printing stock which extends only part way about the axis ofsaid roller; support means located on said machine adjacent to said endof said drive shaft to receive and support said casing; releasablelocking means mounted on said roller and casing to prevent rotation ofthe former with respect to the latter and to lock said roller in saidcasing in a position where said printing stock is angularly displacedfrom said opening when said casing and roller are out of said machine,said locking means mating with said free end of said drive shaft to bereleased thereby when said casing and roller are mounted on the machineso as to then permit rotation of said roller with respect t0 saidcasing; and key means mounted on said drive shaft and engaging saidprinting roller, when said locking means is released, to transmitrotation of said drive shaft to said roller, whereby an article locatedin said 10 opening of said casing may be engaged by said roller to beprinted thereby.

7. Printing apparatus adapted to be removably mounted in a printingmachine, comprising in combination, a substantially cylindrical casinghaving an open end; a printing roller mounted in said casing forrotation with respect thereto and having an end portion extending atleast partially through said open end of said casing, said printingroller being formed with an axial bore extending through said endportion thereof; a key in said machine; a plurality of locking membersmounted in said roller for movement toward and away from said casing andextending across said axial bore of said roller, said locking membersbeing formed with cooperating cut away portions adapted to receive saidkey through said axial bore for moving said locking members to a centralopen position; and spring means mounted on said roller and beingoperatively connected to said locking members for urging the same to alocking position where an end of said locking members is in engagementwith said casing.

8. Printing apparatus adapted to be removably mounted in a printingmachine, comprising in combination, a substantially cylindrical casinghaving an open end; a printing roller mounted in said casing forrotation with respect thereto and having an end portion extending atleast partially through said open end of said casing, said printingroller being formed with an axial bore extending through said endportion thereof; a key in said machine; three locking members mounted insaid roller for movement toward and away from said casing and extendingacross said axial bore of said roller, two of said locking membershaving a total width approximately equal to the width of the thirdlocking member and being located in side by side relation against thelatter and said locking members being formed with cooperating cut awayportions adapted to receive said key through said axial bore for movingsaid locking members to a central open position; and spring meansmounted on said roller and being operatively connected to said lockingmembers for urging the same to a locking position where an end of saidlocking members is in engagement with said casing.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,171,490 Wood Feb. 15, 1916 1,563,487 Herb Dec. l, 1925 1,715,451 EllerJune 4, 1929 1,962,729 Andrews June 12, 1934 2,132,403 Davis Oct. 11,1938 2,168,457 Strother Aug. 8, 1939 2,204,577 Davis June 18, 19402,283,130 Sadler May 12, 1942 2,568,624 Hanson Sept. 18, 1951 2,587,766Rouan Mar. 4, 1952 2,599,278 Osgood June 3, 1952 2,599,279 Osgood June3, 1952

